A Comparison, Opportunities and

Challenges of Wireless Communication

Technologies for Smart Grid Applications
Zairanita Binti Hamid
Computer System Engineering
Advanced Informatics School
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
zairanitabthamid@gmail.com

Abstract - I n the past few years, the smart grids have attracted more and more attention. The fact that these systems are
based on the pervasive use of new I nformation and Communications Technologies (I CTs) opens new perspectives in an
aim to improve the electrical grid performances. There are several standardized wired and wireless communication
technologies available for various smart grid applications. With the recent growth in wireless communication, it can offer
standardized technologies for wide area, metropolitan area, local area, and personal area networks. Moreover, wireless
technologies not only offer significant benefits over wired, such as including low installation cost, rapid deployment,
mobility, etc., but also more suitable for remote end applications. Several activities are going on to explore specific
applications of these technologies in smart grid environment. This paper presents various smart grid applications and
also challenges related to each wireless communication technologies.

Keywords Smart Grid, wireless communication technologies, wireless sensors networks
I. INTRODUCTION
The huge development of consumer electronics (PDAs, cell phones, laptops, etc.) and the increase of the
world population make the techniques used in the electricity generation, transmission and distribution of the
current power grids conceived more than a century ago- inappropriate to meet the new power consumption
needs. Several engineering efforts have already been initiated to modernize the power grid, variously known as
Smart Grid, IntelliGrid, GridWise, Modern Grid, etc. According to National Institute of Standards and
Technology, the term Smart Grid refers to a modernization of the electricity delivery system, so it monitors,
protects and automatically optimize the operation of its interconnected elements from the central and distributed
generator through the high- voltage transmission network and the distribution system to industrial users and
building automation systems to energy storage installations and to end-use consumers and their thermostats,
electric vehicles, appliances and other household devices. Smart grid will be characterized by two-way flow of
power in the electrical network, and information in communication network. In a recent report on National
Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) framework and roadmap for smart grid interoperability standards,
several wired and wireless communication technologies are identified for smart grid. Advanced wireless
systems offer the benefits of inexpensive products, rapid deployment, low cost installations, widespread access,
and mobile communications which wired technologies and even the older wireless technologies often cannot
provide. Smart Grid is an enabling opportunity for operators to seek new market positions and revenue streams
in an all-important effort to more intelligently and efficiently address energy generation and consumption. Smart
Grid operators can use this comparison chart to clarify the various choices for wireless connectivity from
access to backhaul, for data or management transmission, using any one or combination of various technologies.
With the motivations from recent developments and ongoing activities, the efforts have been carried out to
present the various smart applications using standardized wireless communication technologies, e.g. IEEE
802.11 based wireless LAN, IEEE 802.16 based WiMAX, 3G/4G cellular, ZigBee based on IEEE 802.15, IEEE
802.20 based MobileFi, etc. Different applications of wireless technologies have been identified considering the
latest available data rates, distance coverage, and other important technology features in smart grid environment.

II. SMART GRID FRAMEWORK

By using the conceptual model of smart grid proposed in National Institute of Standard and technology
(NIST), the smart grid framework of information exchange among the communications domains has been
illustrated in Figure 1 below.



Figure 1: Smart Grid Framework

From figure 1, we can see the generation domain shares information with regional system operator, poser
market and control centre. In case of lack of generation or generator failure, immediate actions need to be taken
by regional system operator and power market. Transmission domain is typically regulated by regional system
operator with the help of information exchange with control centre. Next generation transmission domain should
be equipped with Wide Area Situation Awareness (WASA) system in conjunction with advanced Energy
Management System (EMS) in the control center, and transmission substation automation system to maintain
stability of the power grid. Future distribution domain should be set-up with Distribution Automation System
(DAS); Voltage, Var, and Watt Control (VVWC) for DERs and PEVs; and Distribution Management System
(DMS). Customer domain has Energy Services Interface (ESI) to interface with other domains via the AMI or
another means, such as the Internet. ESI can be a local controller or customers EMS [3]. The ESI
communicates to devices and systems of customers Home Area Network (HAN). Major challenges related to
smart grid communication systems are listed as follows:
Develop and/or identify interoperable communication protocols with standard semantic models for
each domain of the smart grid, as well as, harmonize these communication protocols for inter-domain
information exchange.
Identify suitable communication technologies for smart grid communication infrastructure.
Cyber security for intra-domain as well as inter-domain communication interfaces.

III. WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR SMART GRID APPLICATION

This section discussed the opportunities and challenges with different wireless communication technologies for
achieving various smart grid applications.

A. Wireless LAN
IEEE 802.11 based wireless LAN provides robust, high speed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint
communication. The spread spectrum technology was adopted in IEEE 802.11, because it allowed multiple
users to occupy the same frequency band with a minimum interference to the other users. IEEE 802.11
legacy standard proposes the standard for wireless Local Area Networks (LANs) covering three non-
interoperable technologies: Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
(DSSS), and Infrared (IR) at 1 & 2 Mbps data rates. IEEE 802.11b, also known as Wi-Fi, offers a maximum
data rate of 11mbps. It operates on 2.4GHz frequency band with DSSS modulation technique. Wireless LAN
can be considered for various smart grid applications, such as distribution substation automation and
protection, and monitoring and control of distributed energy resources, especially for remotely located small
substation and DERs, where data rate requirements and radio interferences are comparatively less. NIST has
recognized IEC 61850 standard for substation automation and protection applications in smart grid
environment. IEC 61850 standard has proposed Ethernet based communication networks to achieve
interoperable substation automation systems (SAS). Wireless LAN technologies are also known as wireless
Ethernet; and therefore, it can be considered for these applications. The challenges with wireless Ethernet
technologies are:
1) Reliability and availability of wireless signal is less comparatively;
2) Electro-magnetic interference in high voltage environment can slow down data transmissions;

3) Radio frequency interference from wireless equipment can affect the equipments functioning;
4) Limited availability of industrial-hardened wireless LAN equipment

Figure 2 shows the IEC 61850 based wireless LAN to enhance the distribution substation protection and
automation. Figure 3 shows the application of wireless LAN for inter substation communication aided power
line protection



Figure 2: Wireless LAN communication for distribution substation


Figure 3: Wireless LAN communication for inter-substation and DERs.

B. WIMAX
Worldwide inter-operability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) technology is a part of 802.16 series
standards for Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN) [16]. Main objective of WiMAX is to achieve
worldwide interoperability for microwave access. WiMAX for smart grid application is Wireless Automatic
Meter Reading (WMAR), Real-time pricing and Outage Detection and Restoration. WMAR is a large
distance coverage and sufficiently high data rates make WiMAX technology more suitable for Wireless
Automatic Meter Reading (WMAR) as a part of utility Automatic Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Fig. 4
shows the WAMR system based on WiMAX. Implementation of WAMR for revenue metering offers
several advantages to electric utilities and/or service provider in the smart grid environment by reducing the
need for human meter readers. Real time pricing is a WiMAX network for AMI that can be used to provide
real-time pricing models based on real-time energy consumption of the customers. Real-time pricing
capability of WAMR systems can also be beneficial to the customers by shifting their loads during off-peak
times. Outage Detection and Restoration currently, distribution network has almost negligible outage
detection mechanism especially for residential customers, which result into low reliability of power supply.

With the help of two-way communication using WiMAX, fast outage detection and restoration can be
implemented. Challenges and solutions of WiMAX technology are radio frequency hardware for WiMAX
tower is comparatively expensive, and therefore, the placement of WiMAX tower should be done optimally
to reduce infrastructure costs and meet Quality of Service (QoS) requirements.


Figure 4: WiMAX communication for WAMR

C. 3G CELLULAR
The 3G (3rd Generation) / 4G (4th Generation) cellular technology operates on the spectrum range of 824-
894MHz/1900MHz. This cellular network topology consists of cells, which are formed by many low power
wireless transmitters. With the moment of mobile devices having cellular modem, transmission of data is
also exchanged between cells to cell, which facilitates non interrupted data flow. The advantage with cellular
technology is that the existing infrastructure can be used at some extent. Also, with the recent growth in 3G /
4G cellular technology, the data rate and Quality of Service (QoS) are improving very fast. The challenges
and solutions of cellular technology are the call establishment takes indefinite time delay, and moreover, call
dropout can affect the large data exchange. Due to high monthly fees for individual connection and
expensive call costs, cellular technology may not be economical for larger group of remote sites or regular
data transfer. Figure 5 shows the cellular technology that can be used for monitoring and metering of
remotely installed DERs.


Figure 5: Cellular technology for SCADA and power grid monitoring

D. ZIGBEE
ZigBee is reliable, cost effective, and low power home area wireless network developed by ZigBee Alliance
based on an open global standard. It provides compatibilities with IEEE 802.15.4 standard. ZigBee operates
on the unlicensed frequency range of 868MHz, 915MHz and 2.4GHz with DSSS modulation technique.
ZigBee is widely used for building automation, security systems, remote control, remote meter reading and

computer peripheral applications. ZigBee technology for smart grid applications consists of Control of home
application and direct load control. ZigBee is very suitable for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), due to low
power consumption, low cost, and low data rate. Smart Home Area Network (HAN) can be formed using
advanced ZigBee network consist of Full Function Node (FFN) and Reduced Function Node (RFN). Only
the FFN has the full ZigBee functionality and hence, one of the FFN becomes a network coordinator. The
RFN has limited resources and does not allow some advanced functions, e.g. routing, as it is a low cost end
device solution. Fig. 6 shows the star configured ZigBee HAN for home appliances control. The local HAN
can be automatically controlled locally with the help of controller or remotely using utility AMI
infrastructure.


Figure 6: ZigBee technology for smart home area network

The challenges and solutions of ZigBee technology are due to limited physical size, ZigBee devices have limited
battery energy supply, internal memory and processing capacity. The use of ZigBee in industrial environments
is not well document, and hence this technology may be limited for residential automation system.

IV. SMART GRID WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY COMPARISON
Table below shows the comparison between Smart grid wireless technologies.

Technology Description Standards Advantages Weaknesses
WIMAX
(802.16 d/e/m)
Wireless
metropolitan area
network (MAN)
ecosystem
including access,
ASN and CSN for
endto-end.
IEEE 802.16d-
2004, 802.16e-
2005, 802.16m
Efficient backhaul of
data - aggregating 100s
access points; QoS
supports Service
Assurance; Battery
Backup improves
reliability and security;
Simple, scalable network
rollout and CPE
attachment; Faster
speeds than 3G cellular;
Large variety of CPE and
gateway/base station
designs.
Limited access to
spectrum licenses in
the US;
Trade off higher
bitrates over longer
distances;
Assymetrical up and
down link speeds;
Bandwidth is shared
among users;
Competing against
future 4G cellular
Standards for high-
capacity, all-IP
networks.
LTE Enhancements to
3G Universal
Mobile
Telecommunication
s System (UMTS)
mobile networking,
providing for
enhanced
multimedia
3GPP Release 9 Low latency, high
capacity; Fully integrated
with 3GGP, compatible
with earlier 3GPP
releases; Full mobility
for enhanced multimedia
services; Carrier
preferred protocol; Low
power consumption.
Not readily available
in many markets/still
in testing phases in
others; Equipment
cost high; vendor
differentiation still
unclear; Lack of
expertise in designing
LTE networks;

services. Utilities access to
spectrum.
WLAN
(802.11b.g/n)
Indoor wireless
local area network
(WLAN); home
area network
(HAN).
IEEE 802.11b/g/n;
IEEE Working
Group provide
support and update.
Low-cost chip sets -
inexpensive consumer
devices; Widespread use
and expertise - low-cost
application development;
Stable and mature
standards.
Small coverage and
short distances limit
widespread use;
Security issues with
multiple networks
operating in same
locations.
Zigbee
(802.15.4)
Low-cost, low
power, wireless
mesh standard for
wireless home area
networks (WHANs)
or personal area
network (PAN).
IEEE 802.15.4-
2003; ZigBee
Alliance maintains
the standard
Low cost - for
inexpensive consumer
devices; Low power
consumption - up to 2
year battery life; Self-
organizing mesh network
- secure, reliable
networking; Low data
rates - network can
support large number of
users.
Smart energy
specifications are still
under development;
Developer must join
ZigBee Alliance.
3G Cellular 3G includes wide-
area wireless voice
telephone, video
calls, and wireless
data, all in a mobile
environment.
UMTS,
CDMA2000, EV-
DO, EDGE
Widely deployed, stable
and mature;
standardized; equipment
prices keep dropping;
Readily available
expertise in
deployments; cellular
chipset very inexpensive;
Large selection of
vendors.
Technology is in the
transition phase to
LTE
deployment; Public
cellular networks not
as stable/
secure for mission
critical/utility
applications;
Not well-suited for
large data/high
bandwidth
applications.

V. CONCLUSION
In this paper, smart grid wireless framework and challenges related to wireless communication infrastructure have been
presented. The comparison between smart grid technologies also present. Implementation of wireless technology offers
many advantages over wired, like low installation cost, mobility, remote location coverage, rapid installation, etc.
However, each technology has certain challenges, as discussed in the paper, which need to be address for its future use
in smart grid environment. Few common concerns for wireless technologies are, wireless technologies operating in
unlicensed frequency spectrum are more susceptible to interference/noise effects, wireless technologies with licensed
spectrum has less interference, but they are costly solution comparatively and security of wireless media is less
inherently.

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